29 Apr

Resetting expectations for DJ Wagner after Kentucky freshman, former 5-star prospect enters transfer portal

A new entry to the red-hot college basketball transfer portal on Monday, DJ Wagner was one of the most decorated high school players in the national class of 2023. He was the first player to hold the No. 1 overall ranking and spent more time with that top spot than any other player in the class, despite finishing No. 6 overall in the final rankings.

Wagner was also the focus of arguably the class’ most notorious recruiting battle. Wagner was considered a virtual lock for Kentucky, given his family’s history with John Calipari, from the time he first debuted in high school. That all changed, though, when Louisville hired former Calipari lieutenant Kenny Payne, and he, in turn, added Wagner’s grandfather, Milt Wagner, to his coaching staff.

Some 23 years earlier, it was Calipari who hired Milt at Memphis as a mechanism to secure a commitment from Milt’s son, DaJuan Wagner. Now that same strategy was being used against Calipari to pull DJ, DaJuan’s son, away from what seemed like an inevitable Kentucky commitment. Of course, the plan never quite came to fruition, as Calipari and Kentucky prevailed, landing a commitment from Wagner while he was also awarded a NIL deal directly from Nike.

What was clear to all those who had followed Calipari over the years was that Wagner was going to have every opportunity to be successful while playing at Kentucky. Thus, it was not a surprise to see him starting and playing more minutes than fellow freshman guards Rob Dillingham and Reed Sheppard, even as they clearly outplayed him.

As the season went on, though, and it became increasingly difficult to deny who was having the greater impact for the Wildcats, the dynamics began to shift. Sheppard was inserted into the starting lineup late in the season. Dillingham continued to come off the bench behind Wagner, but his minutes and usage both continued to rise.

Less than one month after the season came to an untimely end in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, John Calipari is the head coach at Arkansas, Dillingham has declared for the draft, and Sheppard is presumably set to follow given a projected spot in the lottery.

And Wagner? He’s in the portal after averaging 9.9 points on 40.5% shooting from the floor, 29% shooting from three, 3.3 assists, and 1.9 rebounds per game.

Regardless of whether it’s at Kentucky, Arkansas, or a new location altogether, what does DJ Wagner need to do to regain the form he showed as a youngster?

It’s a multifaceted answer, layered with variables including his outside shooting, decision-making, and pace of play. Most importantly, he needs to get his confidence back.

When Wagner was a high school underclassman, he already had the burden of expectations. He was DaJuan Wagner’s son, coming back to revitalize the high school program that his father had once made known nationally. And yet, he was measured and had a quiet confidence about the way he played and conducted himself.

Fast forward a couple of years, and whether it was the burden of his recruitment or other factors, by the time Wagner entered the summer before his senior year, there was a different tempo about his game. He was always someone who played in attack mode, but now, it was like he was stuck in first gear and didn’t know how to change speeds. Whether it was with USA Basketball or even in the EYBL, he was less efficient than ever before, and thus not able to evolve into the point guard, or even lead guard, once hoped. His shooting had become a more frequent talking point and the hitch in his release may be even more pronounced. On top of all that, he was more visibly frustrated and emotional on the floor than he had ever been before.

Those characteristics largely persisted into his freshman season at Kentucky. He shot just 29% from behind the arc and made fewer 3-pointers on the year than virtually everyone else in the lineup. While he put up a better than two-to-one assist-to-turnover ratio, it came predominantly off the ball, as the primary playmaking responsibilities often went to Dillingham and Sheppard, especially as the season went on. He became hesitant to shoot and yet overeager to attack, all at the same time.

The numbers bore this out as well, as he ranked in just the 21st percentile as a spot-up shooter per Synergy Sports, and the 43rd percentile as a pick-and-roll ball-handler.

So, yes, Wagner needs to shoot the ball more consistently from the three-point line. He needs to learn to slow down and pick his spots so that when he does utilize his speed and burst to attack, he can better weaponize a change of pace. He may never be a true point guard, but if he can get to a point where he can reliably handle more on-ball reps, that would help to rehabilitate his stock as well.

But confidence, and by extension rhythm, are key to just about all of that. In short, he needs to get his swag back and, in so doing, let the game come to him just a little bit more.

Wagner may even benefit from more latitude in the mid-range area, as he attempted just 16 shots in that range all season long, per Pivot Analysis. Whereas in high school, his pull-ups and floaters were a big part of his scoring arsenal when he was playing strictly on instinct, which typically correlated to the most confident version of himself.

If he can do those things while continuing to assert himself as an impactful defender and elite competitor who can lift the energy level and will to win of those around him, something he was often credited for in high school, there is still a path for Wagner to have the impact that many expected in college basketball and ultimately beyond.

But that may be the final key. If it was the pressure of his status or the associated expectations that finally started to catch up to him, maybe the most important thing he can do for his career is to take it one step at a time. In other words, the best way to help his long-term NBA stock may be to forget about the NBA for now and be the best college player he can be. The truth is that’s what he did for most of his high school career. There were always questions about how his physical tools and high-volume approach would ultimately translate to the highest levels, but he was so consistently productive and impactful, it was hard to think he wouldn’t find a way to keep doing it. That’s exactly who he needs to be again. The player who focused entirely on where he is right now and hopefully gets his confidence back in the process.

The fact that he’s willing to put his name in the portal and explore getting it right at the college level before sticking to an outdated one-and-done plan is a great indication that he may be willing to do just that.

29 Apr

Baylor’s Ja’Kobe Walter, a possible lottery pick, Big 12 Freshman of the Year, declares

Baylor guard Ja’Kobe Walter is entering the NBA Draft after winning Big 12 Freshman of the Year, he announced Monday on social media. At 6-foot-5 and with great length and athleticism, Walter proved to be a versatile off-ball perimeter threat during his lone season with the Bears while playing in a rugged conference.

Walter started every game for Baylor, helping the Bears to a 24-11 (11-7 Big 12) record and a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The McKinney, Texas, native is projected as a potential lottery pick after delivering on the hype he generated as a five-star prospect in the Class of 2023.

Though just 19 years old in a veteran-oriented Big 12, Walter led Baylor in scoring at 14.5 points per game and reached double figures 26 times. The strong campaign set Walter up to follow other former Baylor players such as Keyonte George (2023), Jeremy Sochan (2022) and Davion Mitchell (2021) in being first-round picks under coach Scott Drew.

Ja’Kobe Walter’s NBA Draft projection
Like many young players, Walter has elements of his game to iron out, particularly when it comes to shot selection and building the strength needed to finish through contact. But all the tools are there for him to make it in the NBA. He looks and plays bigger than 6-foot-5, can score at all three levels and has the motor to become a high-level defender.

Walter ranks No. 7 in the 2024 NBA Draft Prospect Rankings from CBS Sports. He landed at No. 12 in a recent mock draft from Kyle Boone after he finished his season.

“Where Walter lands in this class could range between 5 and 15, but I can’t imagine it’s further than that,” Boone wrote. “He’s a high-level shot maker who was a touch inconsistent at times for Baylor as a freshman but has the background and pedigree to slot into the NBA as a reliable two-guard.”

Impact on Baylor
Through 21 seasons at Baylor, Drew has established his program as a legitimate pathway to the NBA. Walter is merely the latest example of how playing for the Bears can get highly touted young prospects where they want to go. Drew likely never expected to have Walter for more than one year, and Baylor is on track to reload. Three top-50 prospects are committed to the Bears’ 2024 recruiting class, including five-star shooting guard VJ Edgecombe. As the No. 5 overall player in the class, per 247Sports, Edgecombe may be able to replace the production Baylor is losing amid Walter’s departure.

29 Apr

Ex-Kentucky big man follows John Calipari in splash acquisition

Former Kentucky center Zvonimir Ivišić announced Monday that he is transferring to Arkansas to reunite with coach John Calipari. Ivišić is Arkansas’ first commitment since Calipari was introduced as the coach of the Razorbacks last week following 15 seasons at UK.

Landing the Croatian big man makes for a splashy beginning to what will be an intense couple of months of roster building for Calipari, who quipped on Wednesday that “there is no team” at Arkansas. With the Razorbacks’ entire 2023-24 roster either out of eligibility, in the transfer portal or turning pro following coach Eric Musselman’s departure for USC, Calipari has a lot of work to do.

Ivišić showed tantalizing flashes of potential for the Wildcats after missing the first 16 games of the season while awaiting NCAA clearance. The 7-foot-2 stretch big man finished with 13 points, five rebounds, three blocks and two assists while knocking down 3 of 4 attempts from 3-point range in just 16 minutes during his first game against Georgia on Jan. 20.

That sterling debut set an impossibly high standard for Ivišić, who struggled to carve out a steady role over the following weeks. Still, with a rare combination of size, skill and shooting ability, Ivišić obviously has the tools to be a high-level starter in college basketball.

pic.twitter.com/9WxWiFsd92

— Zvonimir Ivisic (@zvonimir_ivisic) April 15, 2024
Given that Ivišić blocked 1.3 shots per game in just 11.7 minutes per game, it’s easy to envision him blossoming into one of the top shot blockers in the SEC or even the country. Key to his continued development will be physical maturation. With a full offseason to spend in Arkansas’ strength and conditioning program, Ivišić should develop the strength required to bruise on the block in a rugged conference.

29 Apr

Texas falls to rear of latest Top 25 And 1 after transfer portal shakeup

The transfer portal giveth and the transfer portal taketh away.

Texas is a great example.

On Sunday, the Longhorns added three heralded transfers from the portal — namely Tramon Mark (Arkansas), Jayson Kent (Indiana State) and Julian Larry (Indiana State). Then, on Monday, Texas lost both Tyrese Hunter and Dillon Mitchell to the portal. So that’s three players coming and two players going.

It’s a net negative, I think.

Which is why the Longhorns are down to No. 26 in Version 5.0 of the 2024-25 CBS Sports Preseason Top 25 And 1 college basketball rankings. Will UT coach Rodney Terry eventually replace Hunter and Mitchell with quality transfers? Yes, probably. When he does, I’ll adjust again. But, for now, Texas is a team projected to lose six of its top eight scorers — six players, by the way, who combined to average 63.3 points per contest, among them leading scorer Max Abmas — from a roster that earned a No. 7 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, and that’s a lot to replace in a league like the Big 12.

Houston remains No. 1 in the Top 25 And 1 based on a projection that has the Cougars returning eight of the top 10 scorers — everybody besides Jamal Shead and Damian Dunn — from a team that won the Big 12 by multiple games and secured a No. 1 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Kelvin Sampson’s program is bringing back four starters and adding Milos Uzan, a 6-foot-4 transfer from Oklahoma who started 56 games for the Sooners over the past two seasons.

29 Apr

Indiana landing guard Myles Rice was best fit of the weekend

Finding shooting is one of Indiana’s top priorities in the college basketball transfer portal, but fixing the point guard was also paramount. That’s why the April 13 pledge from guard Myles Rice of Washington State — one of the best players in the portal, by any measure — was my favorite fit from the weekend flurry of commitments.

Two seasons ago, Indiana was one of the best ball-screen offenses in the country, kickstarted by Trayce Jackson-Davis and Jalen Hood-Schifino.

Even with All-Big Ten big man Kel’el Ware (an excellent lob threat), IU’s ball-screen offense was ridiculously uninspiring. Indiana averaged just 0.854 points per possession in the 576 ball-screens that ended with a shot attempt or turnover, per Synergy.

Indiana’s guards, namely point guard Xavier Johnson, were especially frustrating. IU’s ball-handlers rated in the 16th percentile nationally in pick-and-roll offense, via Synergy.

It just had to be fixed.

Insert Rice. The Pac-12 Freshman of the Year beat cancer and can beat lots of ball-screen coverages, too.

Rice checked in 81st nationally among all Division I players, averaging over five points per game in pick-and-rolls.

Rice has some real giddy-up off the bounce, and he can settle into some tough jumpers against drop coverage. Rice shot over 61% at the rim which is an impressive feat for a 6-foot-3, 180-pound guard playing his first season of college basketball. Rice was a good player for Washington State in Year 1, but he can be an All-League type guard for Indiana as quickly as next season.

The Hoosiers are also the favorite for No. 1 transfer Oumar Ballo, the big man out of Arizona. It’s shaping up to be a great offseason for coach Mike Woodson in Bloomington.

29 Apr

Phoenix Suns assistant to lead Cougars after Mark Pope takes over Kentucky

Fittingly, a man named Young will lead Brigham Young University.

Phoenix Suns top assistant Kevin Young will be the next coach at BYU, sources told CBS Sports on Tuesday. The deal, which is official but not fully finalized, is for seven years and in the neighborhood of $30 million over the life of the contract, per a source.

Young will replace Mark Pope, who left late last week to take the Kentucky job after five seasons running BYU. The hire comes at a critical time for the program; the Cougars are entering Year 2 in the Big 12, which has consistently rated as the best conference in college basketball for the past decade.

The 42-year-old Young, who was a finalist for the Brooklyn Nets coaching vacancy, has a well-regarded NBA reputation and has been tracking toward being an NBA coach in recent years. There was speculation, even into Tuesday morning, over whether he’d pass on his NBA future to take over a college program. Young was BYU’s top choice despite having never played for or coached at the school. However, he is from Salt Lake City and has longstanding ties to BYU alum/Utah Jazz top basketball executive Danny Ainge. Even more critically, Young is longtime friends with billionaire BYU alum Ryan Smith, who was a power player in the hiring process.

Sources said both Smith and Ainge played a pivotal role in making the arrangement possible, with Smith contributing millions toward Young’s hire and BYU’s basketball infrastructure in the years to come.

In taking the job, Young — the highest-paid assistant in the pros — will get a sizable raise and will eventually leave his post with the Phoenix Suns. There is one caveat, however: He is staying on staff with Phoenix through the end of the team’s playoff run, sources told CBS Sports. The Suns are seeded sixth in the Western Conference and will start their series vs. Minnesota, the 3-seed, on Saturday.

BYU went outside its standard hiring practices and procedures in the way it hired Young, according to sources. Whereas the university and its church leaders normally mandate at least three candidates be formally interviewed for a head coaching position, Young was the only candidate interviewed in this instance. The head men’s basketball coach, as with many other positions, must be of Mormon faith and actively practicing in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which Young does.

It also helped that Young was involved in BYU’s search process the last time, when Pope ultimately won the job in 2019.

Young was previously a head coach in the G League (Utah Flash, Iowa Energy, Delaware 87ers) before rising higher in the NBA ranks over the past half-decade as an assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers and the Suns. Young spent one season coaching in college, in 2007-08, as an assistant at Utah Valley.

Young was taken by BYU’s courtship not just because of the hefty contract offer, but because “the NBA grind is real and cutting his season down was a factor,” according to one source. While college recruiting is a year-long grind in and of itself, BYU’s range of prospects is much more limited than most other high-major programs due to its LDS Church ties and honor code. Plus, Young has small children, and the opportunity to move away from the NBA lifestyle and spend less time on the road to be with his family was a swaying factor.

As for the transfer portal, three key BYU players have entered since Pope left for Kentucky: Dallin Hall, Aly Khalifa and Richie Saunders. With Pope now at Kentucky, it’s considered unlikely that all three would return to BYU.

With Young remaining on Phoenix’s bench until the end of its season — whenever that is — he will be moving swiftly to hire a staff in the next few days in an effort to retain as much of BYU’s roster as possible and work the transfer portal. He’s also likely to bring on at least one assistant who his currently working in the NBA, a source said.